Uncertainty hangs over the fate of three Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) undergraduates who face a one-semester suspension for their alleged involvement in anti-establishment activities.

The trio who recently finished their final-year examinations received a letter from the university authority on March 11 informing them about the Education Ministrys decision to reject their appeal against the suspension.

The letter dated March 9 said the suspension would take effect next semester by which time the trio would have graduated, a source told malaysiakini .

USM slapped the suspension penalty on Lee Yen Ting, Choo Chon Kai and Loke Chee Hoe in January.

Lee, who is USMs Chinese Language Society (CLS) president, and Loke were found to have violated university regulations when they participated in an illegal gathering to protest against the Vision School concept in November 2000.

Choo, who is the societys secretary, was caught by the campus security in the act of selling anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) badges last year.

The trio subsequently appealed to the ministry against the suspension.

Fourth student

A fourth student, Fatin Nor Suhana Abdul Khalid, is also facing one-semester suspension for participating in the illegal gathering. She has yet to graduate and would likely be the only one left to face the punishment. She did not make any appeal to the ministry.

USM initially barred the four students from sitting for their examinations but later relented on humanitarian grounds.

Except for Fatin who has yet to complete her studies, the others could graduate if they passed the final examinations.